Capital Gazette shooter sentenced to five life in prison terms for the 2018 mass shooting

A Maryland judge has sentenced the man responsible for killing five journalists who worked for the Capital Gazette newspaper to more than five life terms without the possibility of parole.

Jared Ramos was convicted by a jury in July for the 2018 mass shooting at the newspaper. Ramos attempted an insanity plea, saying he wasn't responsible for the five deaths despite eyewitness testimony.

According to the New York Post, Ramos acted out of revenge due to a story published by the Capital Gazette concerning Ramos’ prior misdemeanor charge for harassing a classmate while in high school. As a result of the story, on June 28, 2018 Ramos walked into the Capital Gazette, opening fire on the unsuspecting employees.

Anne Arundel County judge Michael Wachs sentenced Ramos to serve all five life terms consecutively, plus another 345 years for other miscellaneous charges. According to the Capital Gazette, Wachs blasted Ramos for being a “cold blooded killer” who had no regard for “the sanctity of human life.”

The shooting caught national attention for its unprecedented attack on journalists. According to NPR, the attack was one of the most violent attacks on journalists in U.S. history. 

In an amazing display of courage and sense of duty to their profession, the employees of the Capital Gazette published a newspaper the day after the shooting, resulting in a Pulitzer Prize.

A memorial was erected in Annapolis, Maryland following the shooting. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan also dedicated June 28 as Freedom of the Press Day.